Insect electrocutor



Sept. 4, 1934. J- BOWMAN 1,972,180

I-NSECT ELECTROCUTOR Filed May 28, 1932 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 v UNITED STATES PATENT & 1,972,1s

oi-"F cE msso'r ELECTR The invention relates to insect electrocutors, and particularly to a device of this character for electrocuting insects and collecting them after being electrocuted.

The principle object of the invention is to provide a device of this character comprising a casing having an opening therein across which oppositely charged electrodes extend and beneath which is positioned a drawer 'into which insects which are electrocuted when passing through said opening will fall.

A further object is to provide a device of this character including a casing having an opening and a plurality of electrodes preassembled in a 'unit for installation in the opening of said casing.

A further object is to provide a device of this character including a casing and an electrode assembly and resilient means pcarried by said casing for securing said electrode assembly in 20 said casing in operative position.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having an electrode assembly including two sets of interconnected parallel electrodes positioned in alternating relation and carried by a pair of spaced parallel bars.

A further object is to provide simple means for interconnecting a pair of telescoping sets of electrodes with a source of power.

A further object is to provide a device of this 30 character which is simple to construct and assemble, and cheap to manufacture.

- With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the electrode assembly. I Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device illustrating the manner in which the electrode assembly is secured to the casing.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the supporting bars of the electrode assembly.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spring member securing said electrode assembly to said casing. 7

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a casing comprising a bottom 11, sides 12, andeeads 13. Said sides and ends have inwardly directed flanges 14 projecting from the upper edges thereof. A cover plate 15 is suitably secured to flanges 14 at one end thereof to form a closed compartment at one end of the casing for purposes to be hereinafter set forth, and leaving the major portion of the casing open at its top. An opening 16 is formed in one end 13 of the casing for thereception of a sliding drawer 17 extending into said casing beneath said top opening and being of a dimension slightly greater than the dimension of the opening in the top of the casing.

An electrode grill is carried by the casing to extend'across the top opening thereof and comprises a plurality of spaced parallel rods or electrodes 18 interconnected at one of their ends by a contact member 20, and a second set of spaced parallel electrodes 19 interconnected at one of their ends by contact member 21. The electrodes 18 and 19 of each set are equally spaced apart. A pair of insulating bars 22, eachhaving a plurality of alignedopenings 23 therethrough, which openings are spaced apart a distance equal to one half the spacing between electrodes 18 and 19 of their respective sets, form means for mounting the sets of electrodes to form a grill. The sets of electrodes are positioned in. alternating relation, with electrodes of opposite sets passing through adjacent openings 23 in the bars 22, and the contact members 20 and 21 positioned at opposite ends of the assembly as illustrated in Figure 2. The bars 22 are of substantially L-shape to provide a recess at the lower rear side thereof, and when the grill is assembled in operative relation with the bars 22 at the opposite ends thereof, the contact members 20 and 21 are positioned in said recess and the free ends of the electrodes of the opposite set are spaced from said contact members, as illustrated in Figure 4. Flanges 24 are formed at the opposite ends of bars 22 and said flanges are provided with a lower concaved surface at 25.

At the opposite sides of the opening in the top of the, casing, and spaced below the flanges 14 of the casing a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the bars 22, electrode grill supporting members are carried by the side walls 12 of the casing. These supporting members comprise a plate 26 spot welded to the side walls 12 and supporting a horizontal inwardly directed plate 27 which terminates in a convexed end portion 28 which is preferably formed of sheet metal.

In assembling the device, the electrode grill beenpreassembledsaidgrillisin- The bars are then slid on the electrodes towards the ends of the grill and between said-members to bring the concaved portion 25 -ot the end portion 24 thereof into engagement with the convex spring members 28, whereby said spring members will securely hold and lock said bars in operative relation to the casingby pressing them against the flanges 14. When the bars 22 have been thus properly mounted and locked in the casing 10 and the two sets of electrodes 18, 19 have been operatively positioned relative to each other and to the bars 22, sealing wax or other suitable adhesive material may'be applied to the lower recessed portion of bars 22 to hold the electrodes 18, 19 and their-contact members 20, 21 in operative flxed relation relative to the bars whereby they are prevented from relative movement into contact with each other to close the circuit which will be hereinafter described.

A conventional electric transformer 29 is -mounted in the casing 10 at the end thereof enclosed by cover plate 15, and has connection with a suitable source of power by means of lead 30. The outer electrode of the set of electrodes 18 is elongated at 31 to extend past the contact member 21 of the other set, and one of the electrodes oi the set of electrodes 19 extends rearwardly from contact member 21 at 32, and these two contact extensions 31 and 32 are connected to the opposite ends of one o! the coils of the transformer 29, whereby the electrodes of the sets 18 and 19 are operatively connected to the transformer to be oppositely charged. 7

The spaced alternate electrodes of the opposite sets form parts of a normally open circuit. Then, it the transformer is energized, and an insect passes between the spaced'electrodes, the body 01' the insect forms a conductor to close the \circuit between-the electrodes and the charge passes through the body of-the insect to electrocute it, whereupon it drops into'the drawer 17. If, as sometimes occurs with these devices, the insect .has only been singed rather than killed, and it is still alive after it has fallen into the drawer, it cannot escape without again passing between the electrodes. The second charge of electricity is certain to kill the insect. 'Ihesliding drawer permits ready removal of the electrocuted insects from the device, and the ready replacement of a lure, such as honey or the like, by which the insects may be drawn 'to the device.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and usetulis:

1. In combination, a casing having an opening therein, a transformer mounted in said casing in spaced relation to said opening, a sliding drawer mounted in said casing and positioned beneath said opening, a plurality of spaced electrodes extending across said opening, insulating bars positioned at opposite ends of said opening and supporting the endsct said electrodes, a pair 0! spring'members carried by said casing adjacent eachendofsaidopening,saidspringmembers operatively mounting said bars relative to said opening, means interconnecting alternate electrodes to iormtwo sets at electrodes, and means interconnecting transformer.

2. Incombinatimi, acasinghaving'anopming therein,aslidingdrawermountedinsaidcasim and positioned beneath said opening, a plurality oi. spaced electrodes extending across said opening, insulating bars positioned at opposite ends ofv said opening and supporting the ends oi said electrodes, a pair of spring members carried by saidcasingadjacenteachendoisaidopening, said spring members operati mounting said barsinsaidcasingrelativetosaidopening,means interconnecting alternate electrodes to form two sets 0! electrodes, and means connectim each set or electrodes with opposite terminals 0! an electric circuit. 1

3.Incombination,acasinghavinganopming therein, a plurality of spaced electrodu extendingacrosssaid opening, insulatimbarspositioned at opposite ends oi said opening and supporting the ends oi said electrodes, a pair of spring members carried by said casing adjacent eachendoisaidopeningtoseeuresaidbarsinsaid casing, means interconnecting altermte electrodes to form two sets of electrodes, and means no connecting each set 01 electrodes with opposite terminals of an electric circuit.

4. In combination, an open-ended casing having marginal inwardly directed flanges at the open end thereof, a plurality of spaced electrodes extending across said opening, insulating bars positioned at opposite ends of said openim and supporting said electrodes, resilient means earriedbysaidcasinginspacedrelationtosaid flanges at the ends of said opening, said bars I spacedrelationtosaidflangeasaidredllmtm means pressing said bar into engagement with said flange, and a plurality of spaced elects-Bally charged members extending acres said opening andsupported by said insulating bar.

6. In combination, a casing having an opuling therein, resilient meanscarrled by said case ing adjacent said opening, insulating bars pesitioned by said resilient means adiacmt aid openinginapositiontocloseapcrtionotsaid opening at opposite ends thereof, and a pinrality of spaced electrically charged members extending across said opening and supported by saidinsulatingbarasaidbarsandmembersbdng dispomd within the outline 01' said casing.

'7. In combination, a casing having an opening in one of its sides spaced from one eike therein,

' a supporting member carried by said casing in spaced relation to said opening, an insulating bar interposed between said supporting member andthesideoisaidcasinghavingtheopening therein, and a plurality of spaced electrically charged -members extending acres said opening and supported by said insulating bar.

8. In combination, an open-ended casing luving a marginal flange extending inwardly from the upper end'thereoi', convex reslltnt mnnbers carriedby said casing'in spaced relaticnto'nid flange, insulating bars having a concavity formed inoneiacethereoLsa-idinsulatingbarshdnginterposed between said resilient members and said flange with said convex members seated in the concavity of said bars, and a plurality of spaced electrically charged members extending across said opening and supported by said insulating ba'rs.

9. In combination, an open-ended casing having a marginal inwardly directed flange at the open end thereof, a supporting member carried by said casing and positioned in spaced relation to said flange, a convex resilient member carried by said supporting member, an insulating bar having a concavity formed in one face thereof, said insulating bar being interpositioned between said supporting member and said flange "witli' said resilient member seated in the concavity thereof, and a plurality of spaced electrically charged members carried by said bar and spanning said opening.'

10. In combination, a casing having an opening therein a plurality of spaced electrically charged members spanning said opening, insulating members mounting said last named members, and resilient means carried by said casing constrictively engaging said insulating member to mount said member within said casing.

11. In combination, a casing having an opening therein, a pair of insulating members carried by said casing adjacent said opening and each having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of electrodes mounted in said apertures, means interconnecting alternate electrodes to form two sets of electrodes, and means connecting said sets of electrodes with opposite terminals of an electric circuit.

12. In combination, a casing having an opening therein, a pair of insulating members carried by said casing at opposite ends or said opening, said members having their under sides recessed and having a plurality of apertures therein communicating with said recess, a plurality of electrodes mounted in said apertures, a con-- tact member positioned in the recess of each insulating member and connected with alternate electrodes to form two sets of electrodes, and means connecting said sets of electrodes with opposite terminals of an electric circuit.

13. In combination, a casing having an opening therein, a source of power in said casing spaced from said opening, a preassembled electrode unit comprising spaced electrodes, means interconnecting alternate electrodes to i'orm two sets of electrodes, and an insulating member supporting said electrodes, resilient means carried by said casing and engaging said insulating member to lock it in operative position in said casing adjacent said opening, one electrode of each set extending from said set to said source of power.

14. The combination with a casing having an opening therein, a supporting member carried by said casing, a resilient member carried by said supporting member, of a plurality of spaced electrodes, insulating members supporting said electrodes, said electrodes and insulating member being insertible in said casing as a preassembled unit, said supporting member engaging said insulating member to position said preassembled unit in said casing in operative relation to said opening, said resilient member engaging said insulating member to lock itin operative position, and means connecting said electrodes with an electric circuit.

HERBERT J. BOWMAN. 

